Mapping Business Support Organizations (BSOs) in ASEAN

Result of Service

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND TIMELINE • Output 1: Expanded and categorized mapping of BSO actors, including a desk research and consolidated data-gathering insights presented in a first draft report, covering: o Comprehensive list of business support institutions and ecosystem actors across ASEAN with specific sector highlights o Institutional profiles for each organization including: mandate, governance structure, services offered, and target beneficiaries of each identified organization. o Analysis of the services and support mechanisms provided by the organizations, including capacity-building, market access, trade facilitation, export support, advocacy, certification support, financing facilitation, innovation support, and business advisory services. o Analysis to identify service gaps, overlaps, duplication areas, and opportunities for coordination and complementarities among ecosystem actors. • Output 2: Draft institutional mapping and ecosystem analysis report following ITC methodology (approx. 40–60 pages) with Executive Summary presenting: o Analysis of gaps, overlaps, coordination mechanisms, existing coordination mechanisms and partnership structures among ecosystem actors and sector-specific support; o A visual ecosystem BSO map for the semiconductor, fish and crustacean products, and plastics and rubber sectors; o Identify institutional strengths, constraints, and opportunities for ecosystem strengthening and regional collaboration. o Tailored recommendations for strengthening ecosystem coordination and effectiveness. • Output 3: Final revised report and ecosystem mapping incorporating comments and written feedback from ITC, ASEAN Secretariat, and ASEAN Member States (AMS).

Work Location

Home based in the ASEAN region with potential travels

Expected duration

15.09.26 - 30.11.26

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND The International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, supports developing countries in leveraging expanding trade opportunities within an increasingly complex global environment. ITC promotes sustainable and inclusive development through trade. About the project: EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package (SCOPE) – Trade is a five-year project funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the ITC in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), as well as ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and Working Groups aimed at addressing three important trade-related pillars which drive economic connectivity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and between ASEAN and the European Union (EU) i.e., trade policy environment, digital connectivity, sustainable and resilient value chains. SCOPE Trade will improve sustainable connectivity between the EU and ASEAN, and within ASEAN with a focus on trade, economic connectivity and sustainable value chains through improved regulatory frameworks, dialogue and institutional capacities in key areas of trade and economic connectivity and implement the following expected outputs: § Output 1: Improved policies and regulatory environment for fair and sustainable market, trade and investment in ASEAN. § Output 2: Improved capacities of ASEAN for digital connectivity. § Output 3: Increased knowledge and capacities for ensuring environmental, economic and social value chain sustainability among ASEAN/ASEAN Member States institutions and the private sector. Under Output 3, ITC will implement Activity 3.1: Conduct assessments along selected value chains with potential for trade development and Sub-Activity 3.1.2. Conduct in depth regulatory assessments for the selected value chains to analyse the sustainability-related market access conditions, ITC seeks to conduct a structured mapping of Business Support Organizations (BSOs) operating across ASEAN Member States and at regional and National levels in ASEAN countries, with a focus on their support to ITC-identified priority value chains. In this context, ITC is recruiting a consultant to provide technical support for the identification, documentation, and analysis of BSOs in the ASEAN region. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Institutions and Ecosystems Programme Officer, under the overall guidance and technical direction of SCOPE Project Manager (in Geneva, Switzerland), and in close coordination with the Regional Technical Expert on Sustainable Value Chain (Output 3 Lead) based at ASEAN Secretariat headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Consultant will be responsible for providing technical expertise to support the mapping and analysis of business support organizations and ecosystem actors operating across the ASEAN region, with a focus on the semiconductor, fish and crustacean products, and plastics and rubber sectors. The assignment will contribute to strengthening the understanding of the institutional ecosystem supporting private sector development and regional value chains in ASEAN. Specific responsibilities include: Activity 1 – Mapping and Identification of Relevant Organizations 1. Identification and mapping of relevant institutions and ecosystem actors across ASEAN Member States • Conduct desk research and stakeholder consultations to expand ITC mapping of BSOs in the region and identify sector-specific business support institutions operating at national and regional levels across ASEAN. Institutions include: chambers of commerce, sectoral business associations, export promotion organizations, industry councils, cluster organizations, innovation hubs, public agencies, trade and investment support institutions. • Identify organizations specifically supporting businesses operating in the semiconductor, fish and crustacean products, and plastics and rubber sectors. 2. Ensure comprehensive institutional profiling and ecosystem analysis • Review and document institutional details as per ITC methodology including mandate, governance structure, services offered, and target beneficiaries of each identified organization. • Analyze the services and support mechanisms provided by the organizations, including capacity-building, market access, trade facilitation, export support, advocacy, certification support, financing facilitation, innovation support, and business advisory services. • Analyze data to identify service gaps, overlaps, duplication areas, and opportunities for coordination and complementarities among ecosystem actors. Activity 2 – Ecosystem Assessment and Analytical Review 1. Provide analytical insights • Provide technical analysis and qualitative insights to assess the role and positioning of institutions within the ASEAN business support ecosystem, focusing on: a. Institutional functions and comparative advantages b. Sector-specific support mechanisms and value chain integration c. Existing coordination mechanisms and partnership structures among ecosystem actors • Assess the extent to which current services respond to the needs of MSMEs and private sector actors within the targeted sectors (semiconductor, fish and crustacean products, and plastics and rubber sectors). • Identify institutional strengths, constraints, and opportunities for ecosystem strengthening and regional collaboration. • Review existing ecosystem frameworks, sector strategies, and institutional arrangements relevant to ASEAN regional integration and industrial development priorities. 2. Ensure the preparation of a detailed institutional ecosystem map and analytical report • Develop a clear and structured ecosystem map presenting the relationships, functions, and interactions among identified organizations. • Highlight institutions that can contribute to the delivery of SCOPE Trade Output 3. • Draft an analytical report summarizing key findings on institutional roles, service offerings, governance structures, gaps, overlaps, and coordination opportunities. • Formulate actionable recommendations to improve ecosystem efficiency, collaboration, and service delivery for businesses operating within the targeted sectors. Activity 3 – Validation and Finalization • Incorporate comments and feedback received from ITC, ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Member States and relevant stakeholders into the final deliverables. • Support the validation and refinement of the institutional mapping and analytical findings. • Ensure all deliverables are finalized in accordance with ITC quality standards and reporting requirements. Copyright Clause: The consultant has to ensure that she has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, international trade, business administration, public policy, development studies, industrial development, regional integration, or a related field. o Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in private sector development, business ecosystem analysis, institutional mapping, trade and investment support, or related areas. o Demonstrated experience working with business support institutions, chambers of commerce, business associations, trade support institutions, or industry ecosystem actors within the ASEAN region. o Proven experience conducting institutional assessments, stakeholder mapping, ecosystem analysis, or value chain analysis. o Strong analytical and research skills related to institutional ecosystem analysis and stakeholder mapping. o Excellent ability to synthesize complex institutional information into structured analytical outputs and visual ecosystem maps. o Strong understanding of ASEAN business ecosystems, regional economic cooperation, and private sector support mechanisms. o Very good organizational, drafting, and communication skills. o Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders across public and private sectors. o Ability to work under minimum supervision with efficiency, competence, and integrity and in harmony with people of different cultural and national backgrounds. o Ability to plan own work and use time efficiently, manage conflicting priorities, and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.

Languages

Advanced knowledge of English

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.